On Saturday, February 24, 2018, the Ohio Center for the Book at Cleveland Public Library (OCFB), in partnership with the Ohio Arts Council, hosted the Poetry Out Loud Northeast/Cleveland Ohio Regional Semifinals. in the Louis Stokes Auditorium. It was a day where five students performed in an auditorium before a general audience that included family members, teachers and friends. Each student had to choose and memorize two poems, being careful to adhere to strict guidelines while in performance.
The program started with introductions and comments by Amy Dawson, Manager, Literature Department/Ohio Center for the Book; Chiquita Mullins Lee, Arts Learning Coordinator, Ohio Arts Council, and poet Kisha Nicole Foster, OCFB Poetry Out Loud Fellow, who was also Emcee. The performances of all the students were impressive–captivating the audience with their talent and skill. Afterwards, everyone enjoyed refreshments and cake! Click here to view/print/download the event’s program.
The Northeast/Cleveland Region Finalists. OCFB, in partnership with the Ohio Arts
Council, is pleased to announce Alex Flood, first place winner and Peyton Wood, second place winner, as regional finalists for the 2018 Ohio Poetry Out Loud poetry recitation competition. These two students have progressed in competition at the Northeast/Cleveland region and will represent the region, their schools and communities at the Ohio Poetry Out Loud State Finals on Saturday, March 3, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. at the King Arts Complex Nicholson Theatre, 867 Mt. Vernon Avenue, Columbus, OH. For more information about Poetry Out Loud State Finals, click here. The Ohio State Champion will then advance to the National Poetry Out Loud Finals in Washington, DC, which will be held April 23-25, 2018. Good luck, Alex and Peyton!
N.E./CLEVELAND REGION CONTESTANTS:
Alex Flood, 11th Grade, The Lyceum |Round 1 Poem: “The Light of Stars” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow | Round 2 Poem: “The Windhover” by Gerard Manley Hopkins
Peyton Wood, 10th Grade, Andrews Osborne Academy |Round 1 Poem: “The Affliction of Richard” by Robert Bridges | Round 2 Poem: “For Love” by Robert Creeley
Halle Dial, 11th Grade, Shaker Heights High School|Round 1 Poem: “I Find No Peace” by Sir Thomas Wyatt | Round 2 Poem: “They Are Hostile Nations” by Margaret Atwood
Paige Gibeault, 11th Grade, Medina High School |Round 1 Poem: “Tomorrow” | Round 2 Poem: “The Gift” by Li-Young Lee
Delaney Wilson, 10th Grade, Madison Comprehensive High School |Round 1 Poem: “Acquainted with the Night” by Robert Frost | Round 2 Poem: “It was not Death, for I stood up” by Emily Dickinson
Prizes. The winner at the state level will receive $300 and an all-expense-paid trip to Washington, DC to compete for the national championship. The state winner’s school will receive a $500 stipend for the purchase of poetry books. Two runners-up will receive a cash prize for themselves and for their school libraries. Additionally, a total of $50,000 in awards and school stipends is given annually at the National Finals, including a $20,000 cash prize for the Poetry Out Loud National Champion.
A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Donna S. Collins, Executive Director, Ohio Arts Council; Chiquita Mullins Lee, Arts Learning Coordinator, Ohio Arts Council; Catherine Young, photographer; Lead Teachers: Marina Vladova, Andrews Osborne Academy; Colleen Hogan, The Lyceum; Aubrey Klink & Julie Kirkpatrick, Madison Comprehensive High School; Julie Zavesky & Sherri Hufford, Medina High School; Charles Kelly, Shaker Heights High School; Douglas Ray, Western Reserve Academy; Workshop Leader: Katie Daley; Judges: Nikki Delemonte; Daniel Gray-Kontar; Mary Weems; Accuracy Checker: Dr. Diana Snyder; Prompter Raymond McNiece; Scorekeeper: Valentino Zullo
Poetry Out Loud, the nation’s largest youth poetry recitation competition, is presented by the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation in partnership with the Ohio Arts Council. We are also grateful to family members, friends, and the community at large for their support of this program. Learn more about Poetry Out Loud.